Homemade broth recipes passed down for generations from a wide diversity of ethnic cultures in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East exhibit potent anti-parasitic properties.
These are the findings in the first of its kind research study published in the peer-reviewed journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. (1)
Of course, many parents who use traditional broth regularly in the family’s menu to make homemade soups may already know this!
Malaria: One of the Deadliest Parasitic Infections
Malaria is perhaps the most feared parasitic infection in the world.
According to the World Health Organization, there were 219 million cases of malaria in 2017. This was an increase from 217 million cases in 2016. The estimated number of malaria deaths remained at about a half-million for both years. (2)
The bite of an infected mosquito transmits parasites from the Plasmodium family that are responsible for causing malaria. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum is the deadliest.
Approximately half the world’s population is at risk for malaria. However, the parasite that causes the illness continues to develop resistance to drugs used to treat it.
This continuing malaria-induced level of mortality has motivated researchers to investigate centuries-old natural remedies to fight fever as potential alternatives.
Double-Blind Study. Broth versus Malaria
London researchers conducted a causative study on the effects of broth and how it disrupts the life cycle of the most deadly of the malarial parasites, Plasmodium falciparum.
Primary school children from a diverse ethnic background brought in samples of clear broths made according to traditional recipes.
Researchers tested each of 56 broths in vitro for effectiveness in arresting the growth and development of the deadliest species of the malaria parasite.
Clear broth extract was incubated with in vitro cultures of Plasmodium falciparum asexual or mature sexual stage cultures and assayed for parasite viability after 72 hours. (3)
Broth versus Antimalarial Drugs
Researchers discovered that 5 of the 56 broths demonstrated a greater than 50% in vitro growth inhibition against P. falciparum asexual blood stages.
Two of these had comparable inhibition to that seen with dihydroartemisinin, a leading antimalarial.
In addition, four other broths were found to have >50% transmission-blocking activity, preventing male parasite sexual stage development.
In total, 9 of the 56 complex meat-based or vegetable broths were shown to be effectively anti-parasitic.
The research also served to educate the children about natural remedies, traditional medicine, and an evidence-based drug discovery process.
Antiparasitic Broth
I had a big question after reading this study. What was the difference between the effectively antiparasitic broth recipes and the ineffective ones?
Because details were not provided in the research study, my guess is that gelatin was likely a key factor for the meat-based bone broths. Gelatin is highly protective of the intestinal mucosa from a broad spectrum of microbial assaults.
For example, neglected children with intestinal parasites can sometimes start to pass worms in their stools once they start eating a nourishing diet which includes homemade broths or soups. This is the shocking observation of a friend who is a longtime foster parent.
If your broth doesn’t have gelatin after refrigeration, refer to the linked article for tips on the likely reasons why.
So, do you use traditionally prepared broths as a key wellness tool in your home?
References
(1, 3) Screen of traditional soup broths with reported antipyretic activity towards the discovery of potential antimalarials
(2) WHO: Malaria
Hi Sarah, Are health food store bought Bone Broths okay like Grass fed- Best Of The Bone, Bone Broth+ with collagen Peptides, Green Curry, Lemon Pepper flavour ? It says it’s Dairy-Hormone-Antibiotic Sugar-Gluten Free.
Ingredients: Grass fed certified Australian & New Zealand beef marrow bones wow cooked for 48 hours: organic coriander seeds, organic cumin seed, lemon pepper, turmeric, hydrolyzed collagen peptides, ginger, kefir lime, white pepper, sea salt. No dyes or additives.
I love the fact that broths are antiparasitic, but what I don’t understand is how to both meat and vegetable broths are both antiparasitic. So it isn’t about the components of meat that kills the parasites, but simply the fact that the broth is cooked traditionally…as in slowly or? To me this doesn’t make sense. I would think it was the gelatin, but apparently it has more to do with the herbs, especially bay leaves??
Can you please give us more specifics of why BOTH the broths kill parasites? Also I find that the gelatin at the bottom of roasted chickens from the grocery store is also antiparasitic.
Thank you!!
Thank you for this information! I’ve never heard about this broth before. It’s great that we can use natural remedies!
A very effective anti parasitic soup that I have discovered via MedicalMedium is the following:
Carrots, celery, a whole onion, a whole garlic, a royal helping of curcuma powder, a tomato, a bit of sweet or regular potato.
Add water and bring to a boil. Once it starts boiling turn the fire low so it’s below boiling point and let sit for about an hour.
Enjoy! Or not…it’s pretty disgusting, but very effective. I have seen these suckers coming out straight after. I was shocked and disgusted. 🙁 Good luck!
Does it have to be in the form of “bone broth”. With the gelatin products on the market or dehydrated bone broth, would you get the same results?
The research used freshly made bone broth, not dehydrated. I personally think dehydrated bone broth products are not worth buying.
Yes it does, thank you!
I have a question … does the broth *need* to be refrigerated first, proving the gelatin, to be healthy? Or is it as healthy if ingested right away before refrigeration?
Thank you.
You do not need to refrigerate bone broth to ensure it has gelatin before enjoying it! Even bone broth that has no gelatin will be beneficial…but if it has lots of gelatin then it will be therapeutic beyond just nutritious. Hope that helps 🙂
Its very nice information for me………….thank you for sharing
This is so interesting, Sarah. I noticed that one of my children who had persistent issues with pin worms (we had to deworm him every single year…sometimes multiple times) magically disappeared once I started making broth regularly! I had never made the connection until now!